Can-body forming and soldering machine.



Patented Apr. I5, I902.

H. 0. BLACK.

CA'N BflDY FORMING AND SULDERING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 14, 1901.)

5 Sheets- Sheet I.

(No Model.)

' 1m: nonfils PETERS co, mm'ouma, WASNWGTON, n. c.

No. 697,785. Patented Apr. l5, I902.

u. 1:. BLACK.

CAN BODY FORMING AND SOLDEBING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 14, 1901.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

THE ucmms scram co, PHGTO-LI mo vnsmuamn. u c.

Patented Apr. l5, I902.

H. 0. BLACK.

CAN BODY FORMING AND SOLDERING MACHINE.

(Application flled June 14, 1901.)

5 Sheets-Shoat 3.

(No Model.)

No. 697,785. Patented Apr. l5, i902.

H. C; BLAGK. CAN BODY FORMING'AND SDLDERING'MACHINE.

(Ap plication filed June 14, i901.) I (No Model.) .5 sheets-slim 4.

l/$3 h i a. 20 i i 01 g l\ I Ill! i i 7 H Z M 5i I I T I 4 52 x i A [J 72 m 1 1 3 I w nfllllllllllll; 1 i g 74 l :1 '1'- 1 l l i g I o 1 i h. 11 II I I 7 I I E Ill I l "T'" llllll i i LAM THE NORRIS PETERS 00.,vnmuumu. wAswmcrou, u. c.

No. 697,785. Patented Apr. |5, |902.

H. 0. BLACK. CAN BODY FORMING AND SULDERING MACHINE.

(Application flied June 14, 1901.) (No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

Uurrr. TATE I n'rnnr F F lCE.

HENRY 0. BLACK, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,785, dated April15, 1902.

Application filed June 14,1901. Serial No. 64,549. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY 0. BLACK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oakland, county of Alameda, State of California, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Body Forming andSoldering Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the same.

The present invention relates to a certain new and useful apparatus forforming what is known as a lap-seam can-body, the object of theinvention being to deliver a canbody blank to suitable formingmechanism, whereby the said blank is curled or rolled directly around aseamer-h orn and to hold the can-body so curled or rolled upon the hornuntil the lap-seam thereof has been soldered, after which the solderedbody is discharged from its seamer-horn, the invention comprising anintermittently-operated endless carrier having. a series of expansibleseamerhorns secured thereon and carried thereby, with means whereby thecan-body blank is rolled or curled upon the horn and gaged thereon,together with means carried by the seamer-horn and operated by thetravel of the Fig. 3 is a broken diagrammatic View disclos-' ing the camplate or rail, upon which rides the roll of the eccentric for expandingthe seamer-horn during travel of the endless carrier, the seamer-hornsbeing illustrated in dotted lines. the seamer-horns and itsactuating-lever, the link of the endless carrier to which it isfulcrumed being in section. Fig. 5 is a top plan yiew of the machinefrom the flux-applying Fig. (3 is an roll to the discharge end thereof.

Fig. at is a detail view of one of enlarged end view in elevation viewedfrom the feed end of the machine, the carrier-disks being removed andthe endless carrier being sectioned, the forward bracket for theforming-rolls being broken and the rolls being in section. mechanismillustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectionalend view taken on line 00 at, Fig. 1, and viewed from the feed end ofthe machine; and Fig. 9 is an enlarged top plan view of the solderingportion of the machine.

The frame of the machine consists of the standards or supports 1 2 andthe side pieces 3 4. These side pieces preferably are formed ofc11annel-iron,within the channel 5 of which work the rolls 6 of theendless carrier. The endless carrier comprises a number of link frames7, united by link-pins 8, to the ends of which pins the rolls 6 aresecured. The endless carrier works over end disks 9 10, secured toshafts 11 12, working in bearings of the supports2 1. In the peripheryof each Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the feed disk semicircular seats aare formed, into which fit or rest the link-pins 8 during travel of theendless carrier.

The end disks 9 in the present case constitute the drive-disks for theendless carrier, being driven with a step rotation by means of cam 13,secured to one end of cross-shaft 14. This cam carries the rolls a aFig. 2 of the drawings, which alternately work in and out of the slots1), cut in the periphery of disk 15. Said disk is secured to cross-shaft11, and to the same a step rotation is transmitted from thecontinuously-rotating shaft 14: by cam 13. To the opposite end ofcross-shaft 14: is secured the gear-wheel16, which meshes with pinion17, attached to cross driveshaft 18. Said shaft is driven by means of abelt (not shown) working over belt-wheel 19, at-

tached to the drive-shaft.

Inasmuch as connecting-pins 8 of the linkframes rest within thesemicircular'seats of the disks 9 10, it is obvious that as thedrivedisks 9 are driven by a step rotation an intermittent travel isimparted to the endless carrier.

To the endless carrier are attached the seaming-horns 20. Each horn isprovided with a depending lug or tailpiece 20, which is fulcrumedbetween the shoulders 21 of the link-frame by pin 22. Being thusconnected, the seaming-horn is free to move vertically upon itslink-frame, its downward movement being regulated by set-screw 22,working I rail 27, Figs. 1, 2, 5, and S of the drawings.

This guide-rail extends the entire length of the machine through thecenter of the frame, being attached to the end supports of the frame andby suitable brackets throughout the length thereof. The forward andouter ends 27' and 27 are downward curved, so as to permit of the roigradually entering therein to place the seamer-horns into horizontalposition as carried toward the feed mechanism and to move off theguide-rail gradually at the discharge end of the machine.

The seamer-horns are hollow and cylindrical in shape and each horn issplit longitudinally along one side, thus permittinga slight spring tothe horn. Each horn is formed with two curved shoulders or shelves 2828', which form a seat 29 for an eccentric cam 30. This cam is shaped toconform to the seat it occupies and is of such size as to approximatelyfill the seat when the seamer-horn is compressed to close thelongitudinal open seam attached by suitable brackets to side piece 5 ofthe frame. As the roll 33 rides upon the inclined end 34 the crank-arm32 is thrown or turned upward, which partly turns the eccentric camedgewise within its seat 29, Fig. 8 of the drawings, and forces thesplit horn apart a slight distance or expands the same. The object ofthus expanding the seamer-horn is to true the unsoldered canbody thereonas it is carried to the solderingirons, so that after being soldered itwill fit loosely upon the horn after it has been contracted and sliptherefrom as the horn is carried over the drive-disk. The horn iscontracted or reduced in diameter after the canbodyhas been solderedthereon by the eccentric cam being restored to its normal position, Fig.6 of the drawings, due to the roll 33 moving onto thedownwardly-inclined end 34 ofthe cam-plate '35, Fig. 3 of the drawings,being gradually forced downward by the inclined plate 35, beneath whichit is carried.

' Crank-arm 32 is likewise moved downward,

to speak, leaving the soldered can-body fit ting loosely thereover.

' To cross-shaft 14, Fig. 5 of the drawings, is attached thesprocket-wheel 37, which is connected to sprocket-wheel 38, Figs. 1 and'7 of the drawings, secured to shaft 39 by chain 40. To shaft 39 isattached pinion 41, which meshes with pinion 42, secured to longitudinalshaft 43. By this form of connection motion of the drive-shaft 18 istransmitted to shaft 43 for driving the endless body-blank carrier. Thiscarrier consists of an endless chain 44, provided with a series offingers, figures, or plates 45, located a distance apart equal to thewidth of the can-body blank. Said carrier is driven by thesprocket-wheel 47, secured to shaft 43, over which it works; Thecan-body blanks are placed upon this carrier one at a time between theprojecting fingers or plates 45 and are carried thereby toward theinclined plate 48, over which the can-body blank is forced until itsupper edge is placed between the forming-rolls 49 50. The length of thefeed-plate 48 is slightlyless than that of the can-body blank.Consequently the edge of the blanks will be forced plates 45 beingcarried over the sprocketwheel 4'7.

The forming-rolls are driven by a belt (not shown) working overpulley-wheel 5l,secured to shaft of roll 49. To the opposite end of saidshaft isattached a pinion 52,which meshes with pinion'53, secured to theshaft of roll 50. speed, and the moment the edge of the canbody'blank isreceived therebetween the same is carried between the rolls. As carriedtherebetween the body blank is guided down ward by guide-roll 52 andprevented from curling under or around roll by guard 53. The operationof the machine is so timed that a seamer horn 20 is at rest directlyunder the forming-rolls as the can-body blank is passed therethrough. Asthe body-blank leaves the forming-roll it gradually curls itself aroundThis roll holds the can-body blank against the mandrel, and as it is arotating roll, being driven by a belt (not shown) working over pulley55, attached to its shaft, it assists in feeding the blank around thehorn until the edges thereof overlap. By its own spring the can-bodywill firmly grasp the seamer-horn. The moment the can-body has beenformed around the seamer-horn the endless carrier advances by anintermittent trayel toward the soldering mechanism.

,As the seaming-horn, with the can-body blank curled thereon, approachesthe flux and soldering devices the roll 33 rides upon the cam-plate 35,so as to throw the eccentric cam within'the horn in order to expandsame, as hereinbefore described. The horn, with its rolled can-bodyexpanded, is carried below the flux-applying roll 56, whichsupplies-flux to the longitudinal seam of the can-body.

between the rolls 49 50 prior to the fingers or These rolls are drivenat a high rate of the seamer-horn, being aided by the roll 54.

The ilux-wheel has an absorbent covering which receives the flux fromsupply-reservoir 56". After being fluxed the can-body is carried belowthe soldering-irons 57 57,

which are heated by a flame from nozzle 58, 4

directed into fire-box 58 of the irons. These irons bear upon thecan-body seam as the same is moved thereunder by the intermittent travelof the endless carrier.

In order to guard against waste of solder, I have so arranged that thesolder is not fed forward until a can is in position to be soldered. Toaccomplish this, the solder-feeding mechanism is operated by thecan-body upon the horn. The wire solder 59 is fed against the face ofsoldering-iron 57 by the grooved feed-rolls 60 61, between which thewire solder is held, Figs. 1, 8, and 9 of the drawings. As these rollsare rotated the strip of solder is fed inward until its end bearsagainst the hot iron, by which it is'melted and falls onto the seam ofthe can-body beneath the iron. Solder-feed rolls 60 and- 61 are securedto shafts working in bracket 62. To the shaft of roll 60 there isattached the ratchet wheel 63. This ratchet-wheel is engaged anddrivenby pawl 64, carried by slide-plate 65, which lever is normally heldpressed inward by spring 66. The inner end of said slideplate, which isoutwardly inclined, Fig. 9 of the drawings, rests within a longitudinalgroove or channel 68, cut in theside of each seamer-horn. During thetravel of the horn in case a can-body is not thereon the said end of theslide-plate is held within said groove or channel by pressure of spring66. However, as the horn is moved toward the soldering-irons with acan-body blank wrapped therearound the end of said slideplate cannotenter the groove or channel 68, as it is covered by the can-body blankheld thereon. 'Such being the case, the slide-plate by the pressure ofthe traveling horn is gradually forced outward, causingthe pawl 64 torotate ratchet wheel 63 a given distance, which in turn rotates thesolder-roll and causes the inward feed of the solder. In this manner thefeed of solder to the solderingiron is regulated by the movement of thecanbody toward the soldering-irons, for unless a can-body is upon theseaming-horn the slideplate 65 will not be forced outward to actuate thesolder-feed mechanism, but itsinner end will be held within the grooveor channel of the scanner-horn.

Inasmuch as the eccentric expands the seamer-horn and holds the bodywhile the horn approaches the soldering-irons, the lapped edges of thecan-body are liable to separate too much or'spring apart. To obviatethis and hold the same firmly down, the rods 69 areprovided. Theserods-are attachedv to brackets 70,-Figs. l, 5, 8, and 9 of the drawings,and are so arranged that as the seamerhorns,-with the can-bodies, arecarried toward and beneath the soldering-irons they bear against thecan-body adjacent to the lap edges thereof and hold the same firmlypressed down upon its expanded horn.

As the seamer-horn,with the soldered canbody, is carried byond thesoldering-irons by the intermittent movement of the endless carrier theeccentric cam 30 is thrown into position illustrated in Fig. 6 of thedrawings by roll 33, moving beneath inclined plate 35, throwingcrank-arm 32, as before explained, to restore the eccentric cam to itsnormal position. The split seamer-horn being thus re- 1eased,itwillcontract byits own spring, leaving the soldered can-bodyfittingloosely thereupon.

During the travel of the endless carrier over the drive-disks 9 theloosely-held soldered can-bodies 7l slip from ofi the seamer-horn intodischarge-chute 71, Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings.

The under run of the endless carrier is supported by the rails 72, uponwhich the rolls 6 ride during travel of the said carrier toward the feedend of the machine;

Each seamer-horn is formed on its upper surface with a gage-shoulder 73,Figs. 6 and 8 of the drawings, against which the under edge of thecan-body bears after being formed around the horn. This shoulder gagesthe can-body blank and prevents the rolled blank going beyond a givenpoint around the horn.

It is possible that the body-blank may not be forced its full distanceby means of the forming-rolls and roll 54,. To provide against the sameand insure the under edge of the rolled body-blank bearing against thegageshoulder 73 of the horn, a second roll 74: is

employed, Figs. 1 and 7 of the drawings.

This roll is mounted upon the same shaft as roll 54 and bears upon therolled can-body as carried beyond the forming-rolls by the intermittenttravel of the endless carrier. By frictional contact with the rolledbody-blank it forces the under edge of same firmly against thegage-shoulder 7 3 and trues the can-body upon the horn.

As the seamer-horns are carried toward the feed mechanism the roll 25 offulcrumed lever 24 enters the groove on channel 26 of guide-rail 27 atits curved end 27 and causes the fulcrumed lever to gradually throw itsseamer-horn into a horizontal position and to hold same so alined duringits entire travel throughout the machine or until roll-25,moves fromwithin the groove or channel.% at the downwardly-curved discharge end 27of the guide-rail.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be protected by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a can-body forming and soldering machine, the combination with theendless car rier, of means whereby a nonn'eciprocat ing intermittenttravel is impartedthereto,a series of expansible seamer horns carriedthereby nechanisin whereby can-body blanks are fed to and rolleddirectly upon the seamerhorns, and means actuated during the'move mentof the endless carrier for expanding the seamer-horns.

2. In a can-body forming and soldering machine,the combination withanendless carrier, of means for imparting a non-reciprocating intermittentmovement to the carrier, a series of expansible seamer-horns carriedthereby, devices by means of which can-body blanks are rolled upon theseamer-horns, the soldering-irons beneath which the can-bodies arecarried, the solder-feed mechanism, means for expanding the seamer-hornsand holding sameexpanded while traveling beneath the soldering-irons,and devices actuated by the can-body carried upon the seamer-horn forcontrolling the feed of the solder to the soldering mechanism.

3. The combination with the endless carrier, of means for imparting anon-reciprocating intermittent travel thereto, a series of expansibleseamer-horns carried thereby, of means whereby can-body blanks arerolled upon the seamer-horns, of devices actuated by the travel of theendless carrier for expanding the seamer-horns, soldering mechanismbeneath which the rolled can-bodies are carried, and devices for holdingdown the lap edge of the can-bodies as carried beneath the solderingmechanism.

4. The combination with the endless carrier, of means for imparting anintermittent non-reciprocating travel thereto, a series of seamerhornsfulcrumed to the endless carrier, of means whereby can-body blanks arefed to and rolled directly upon the seamer-horns, soldering mechanismbeneath which the rolled can-bodies are carried, means actuated duringthe movement of the carrier for expanding the seamer-horns as theyapproach the soldering mechanism, and devices whereby the seamer-hornsare thrown into a horizontal position as they approach the feedmechanism and so held during travel through the machine.

5. The combination with the endless carrier, of means for imparting anintermittent travel thereto, a series of expansible seamer-horns securedto the endless carrier,of means whereby can-body blanks are fed to androlled around the seamer-horns, the soldering mechanism, means actuatedduring the travel of the carrier whereby .the horns and the bodyblanksrolled thereupon are expanded during travel toward the solderingmechanism and held expanded while carried thereunder and means operatedby the held can-bodies whereby' solder is fed to the soldering mechanismas the can-bodies move thereunder.

6. The combination with the endless carrier, of means forimparting anintermittent non-reciprocating travel thereto, a series ofseamerhornsattached to and carried by the endless carrier, ofmeans whereby can-bodyblanks are rolled directly upon the seamer-horns, soldering mechanismbeneath which the rolled can-bodies are carried, and devices by means ofwhich the lap edge of the can-bodies are held down as carried beneaththe solder mech anism.

7. The combination with the endless carrier, of means forimparting anintermittent non-reciprocatin g movement thereto,a series of splitseamer-horns hinged to and carried by the endless carrier, of means forrolling can-body blanks around the seamer-horns, of soldering mechanism,means for holding down the lap edge of the can-bodies as carried beneaththe soldering mechanism, and devices actuated during the travel of theendless carrier for expanding the seamer-horns as carried toward thesoldering mechanism.

8. The combination with the endless carrier, of means by which thecarrier is driven with an intermittent movement, a series of seamerhornsfulcrumed to and carried by the carrier,

of devices for placing the seamer-horns into horizontal alinement and soholding the same while traveling through the machine, of mechanismwhereby can-body blanks are fed to and rolled around the seamer-horns,the soldering devices, of means actuated during the travel of theendless carrier by means of which the seamer-horns and body-blanksrolled thereon are expanded as the horns move toward the solderingdevices, of means for supplying solder thereto, and devices actuated bythe can-body upon the horns during travel of the carrier and by which isoperated the solder-supplying means.

9. The combination with the endless intermittently non-reciprocatingtraveling carrier, of a series of expansible seamer-horns secured. toand carried thereby, means whereby canbody blanks are fed to and rolledaround the seamer horns, an eccentric cam arranged within eachseamer-horn, a crank-arm attached to said cam, devices located in thepath of travel for the seamer-horn whereby the crank-arm is actuatedduring travel of the endless carrier to throw the eccentric cam so as toexpand or permit of its seamer-horn being contracted, solderingmechanism beneath which the rolled can-bodies are during travel of theendless carrier, and means actuated by the can-bodies during the travelof the carrier for feeding solder to the soldering mechanism.

10. The combination with the endless carrier, of means for imparting anintermittent non-reciprocating travel thereto, a series of expansibleseamer-horns hinged to and carried by the endless carrier, of meanswhereby can-body blanks are fed to and rolled directly upon theseamer-horns, and a gage-shoulder carried by each horn and against whichthe under lap-0f the rolled can-body blank bears.

11. The combination with the endless carrier, of means for imparting anintermittent non-reciprocating travel thereto, a series of seamer-hornshinged or fulcrumed to and carried by the endless'carrier, of meansWhere by can-body blanks are fed to and rolled upon the seamer-horns,means for expanding the seamer-horns and its body-blank rolled thereonduring travel of the endless carrier, the der feed, and devices actuatedby the cansoldering mechanism, and devices by means of which theexpanded bodies are held firmly to the horns as carried beneaththesoldering mechanism.

12. The combination with the endless carrier, of means for imparting anintermittent non-reciprocating travel thereto, a series of expansibleseamer-horns hinged to and carried thereby, of means whereby can-bodyblanks are rolled directly upon the seamerhorns, the solderingmechanism, the wire-solbodies during travel of the scanner-horns and bymeans of which the solder-feed is operated to feed the wire solder tothe soldering mechanism.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HENRY 0. BLACK.

Witnesses:

N. A. ACKER, D. B. RICHARDS.

